Combination wrench and expansion stopper for pipelines



Dec. 23, 196.9 c. MAU JR 3,485,118

COMBINATION WRENCH AND EXPANSION STOPPER FOR PIPELINES Fn'ed April 1,1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r FI G.I

VEN TOR. J. c. MAUGH JR.

BY MARCUS L. BATES Dec. 23, 1969 J. c. MAUGHAN, JR 3,485,118

COMBINATION WRENCH AND EXPANSION STOFPER FOR PIPELINES Filed April 1,1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1 *7 .I f I I I INVENTOR. J. C. MAUGHAN, JR.

BY MARCUS L BATES United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Awrench and retrievable expansion stopper which forms a plug for plugginga pipe line or the like. The plug is comprised of spaced apart plateshaving a resilient member sandwiched therebetween and a bolt extendingthrough the central axis of the plug whereby a nut tightened against thebolt compresses each plate member towards oneanother to thereby expandthe resilient material against the inside peripheral wall surface ofthe, pipe, thereby effectively sealing the pipe against fluid flow andcontamination.

A wrench having telescoping members includes an innermost member havinga'movable hook-like element associated therewith for engaging a holewhich is provided inthe depending threaded end of thebolt. The outermostmember of the wrench includes a nut engaging socket having afrustoconical portion which is formed thereon for engaging the nut andthe hook member.

This combination cooperates together in a manner which enables thewrench to engage both the nut and apertured bolt to thereby enable theplug to be placed within'the pipe, whereupon the independently rotatableinner and outer members of the wrench may be rotated with respect toeach other to thereby tighten the nut and eflectively plug the pipe.When it is desired to retrieve the plug, the wrench is utilized in thebefore described manner, but this time the nut is loosened to therebyenable the resilient material to be relaxed, whereupon the plug may beslidably removed from the pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and large processing plants, requirecontinual modifica tion wherein newline is often added to the existingsystem or old line is modified by tapping thereinto and laying severallaterals. Often the laterals lead to a hous ing development, part ofwhich will be in immediate use, while the remaining line awaits thecompletion of the re maining additional parts of the development. Thesevari ous lines often must be provided with a blind flange in order toavoid contamination as well as to prevent the escape of fluid therefromwhile the remainder of the system is being utilized or fabricated.

Welding a blind flange onto the end of a main or lateral is timeconsuming and requires a skilled welder. Furthermore, the blind flangemust be cut away later on by a cutting torch, leaving rough ends whichmust be refaced prior to continuing additional tie-ins.

When the line is small so as to enable a threaded cap to be placedthereon, the cap can be tampered with, sometimes resulting in the escapeof deadly gases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a wrenchwhich may be used in conjunction with a novel retrievable expansibletype stopper, hereinafter called a plug, in order to enable a marginaldepending end of a fluid carrying 8 Claims line to be efliciently andrapidly plugged, and if desired,

the wrench can later on be used in order to retrieve the plug. from theline. Both the plug and wrench can be used a multiplicity of times. Thewrench can be used in conjunction with numerous'different sizes of plugsor packers.

The plug is comprised of two spaced apart plate-likev members havingcompressible or resilient material there'-' between, and with a boltdisposed along the central axis of the plate members so that when a nutassociated with the threaded end of the, bolt is tightened, theresilient member is compressed tightly against the wall of the pipethereby precludingdislodgment of the plug from the pipe. The dependingthre'aded end of the bolt. .is provided with an aperture whichcooperates with. an inside hook-like member of the wrench whereby theinside member can be jointly used with the remainder of the apparatus inorder. to position the plug within the pipe. The outside memberof thewrench includes one end which terminates in a frustoconical sectionwhich supports a socket that cooperates with the nut in a manner tothereby enable the outside member to be rotated with respect to theinside member, whereupon the nut can be tightened or loosened in orderto plug the pipe or to remove the plug, whichever may be the case.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide anew combination for effectively sealing the ends of pipe.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of acombination wrench and retrievable plug which enables the depending endof a pipe to be rapidly and safeis low in cost and which protects thepipe against the loss of fluid therefrom.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of awrench which enables a bolt to be held stationary while a fastenerassociated therewith is manipulated.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision ofapparatus for providing fluid flow lines with a removableprotectiveseal. 1 I

The above objects areattained in accordance with the present inventionby the provision of a combination pipe. plug and wrench assembly whichis fabricated substan-.

tially as described in the above abstract. Other objects-of the presentinvention will become apparent to those skille in the art as thedescription proceeds. v i w BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I FIGURE 1is an elevational view of a wrench and plug of the presentinvention,with the plug being shown in cross-section,-while some parts of thewrench are broken away to more clearly illustrate the details thereof;

FIGURE 2 isan exploded view of the wrench seen in parts being brokenaway and FIGURE 1, with some shown in section; i

FIGURE 3 is an end view of one of the plates seen in FIGURE 1; and rFIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS forcibly compressed as indicated bythe numeral 22. Spaced apart plate members 24 and 26 are disposed inface to face relationship with one another and are provided with alongitudinally extending bolt centrally received therethrough, with thebolt having threads 28 at the depending end thereof. Nut 30 isthreadedly received by the bolt while the bolt head 32 is oppositelydisposed therefrom so as to permit the head to bear against washer 34.Aperture 36 is provided near the marginal end portion of the bolt. Forconvenience only, it is preferred that the aperture extend diametricallythrough the bolt as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Looking now to the details of the wrench, in FIG- URES 1 and 2 is seenan inner member 40 in the form of a cylindrical tube and an outer member42 which is also in the form of a cylindrical tube, and which is of asize and configuration to enable it to slidably receive the innertubular member therethrough. Handles 44 and 46, respectively, areattached to the outer and inner members, respectively. The depending endof the outer member includes a polygonic shaped end 48 which is the nutengaging end of the tube, and which is connected to the remainder of themember by the illustrated frustoconical bore. The inner member has abolt enclosing tube with a slot formed near the marginal edge portionthereof, which is longitudinally aligned with the tubular member anddiametrically opposed to slot 52.

In FIGURE 2 the before mentioned wrench, along with a modified plug, isshown in a telescopic view in order to better illustrate the details ofthe invention. The before mentioned inner member 40 includes the firstelongated slot longitudinally disposed along the member, with a pin 54diametrically extending through the member 90 from each oppositelydisposed slot. The pin receives a pivoted hook 56 journaled thereto. Oneend 58 of the hook includes an engaging end 68 in the form of adepending lug which engages the before mentioned aperture 36 of thebolt. The opposite end of the hook includes a contoured outer portion 60having a bearing face 62 thereon with a spring receiving tang 64depending from the opposite edge portion thereof. Spring 66 receivestang 64 therewithin so as to capture the tang and at the same time biasthe bearing face 62 outwardly from the first elongated slot to where itengages the inside peripheral wall surface of the inner tubular member.

The outer member slidably receives the inner member therethrough withthe hook being in the retracted position, that is, enclosed within theinner tubular member. Therefore handle 46 does not extend diametricallythrough the outer member, but instead is comprised of two portions eachwelded to the outside peripheral wall surface thereof to enable assemblyof the telescoping members. Stop means 70' prevents inadvertentdisassembly of the components of the tool, While stop means 72 positionsbolt 28 a predetermined distance within the inside bore of the innermember to thereby assure engagement or alignment of the engaging end ofthe hook with the aperture formed in the threaded end of the bolt.

Sufficient threads must be provided on the bolt to enable the nut totravel from a tightened to a loosened position without abutting theengaging end of the hook.

OPERATION In operation, with the inner and outer members beingtelescoped together as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and with the plug madeup with the resilient member sandwiched between the spaced apart platemembers and with the nut screwed onto the bolt so as to expose theaperture 36 therein, handle 44 is pushed toward handle 46 to allow thecontoured outer portion of the hook to be biased outwardly as it ridesagainst the frustoconical portion of the outer member. This actionpermits the engaging end of the hook to be pivoted sufficientlyoutwardly through the second slot to a position where the depending endof the bolt is received in abutting relationship against stop 72 as thebolt slidably enters the inner member. This action brings the apertureinto alignment with the engaging end of the hook, whereupon handles 44and 46 may be slightly parted from one another a sufiicient distance tocause the polygonic nut receiving end of the outer member to slidablyreceive the nut therewithin while at the same time the engaging end ofthe hook pivots about the pin and into the aperture 36. The nut is nowsecured by the socket while the apertured bolt is attached to orcaptured by the engaging end of the hook. The wrench may now be used tomanipulate the plug. The plug cannot be released from the wrench untilthe handle 44 is again moved toward handle 46.

With the plug attached to the wrench, the plug is placed well within apipe with the maximum depth or distance which the plug is placed beingdetermined by the length of the body between the socket and the handle.When it is desired to expand the plug into sealing relationship withinthe pipe, the handle 44 is maintained stationary while handle 46 isrotated. This action secures the plug and bolt against rotation whilethe nut is being made up by the socket. Rotation of the nut by handle 46compresses each spaced apart plate member towards one another, therebycompressing the resilient material therebetween and outwardly againstthe side walls of the pipe with a tremendous force. The leverageafforded by handle 46 enables sufiicient force to be imparted to the nutto thereby assure the plug to be safely positioned in sealingrelationship within the pipe. Handle 46 is then relaxed and next movedtoward handle 44 thereby permitting the engaging end of the hook to bereleased from the aperture located in the threaded end of the bolt asthe contoured outer portion of the hook rides outwardly within thefrusto-conical section of the outer member. Spring 66 pivots the hook ina clockwise rotational direction about the pivot pin, thereby releasingthe apertured bolt from the engaging end of the hook. The tool is nowready to be used to plug another pipe by using another plug, assumingthe first plug is to remain within the first pipe.

When it is desired to remove the plug from the pipe, the inner member isagain positioned to enable the engaging end of the hook to be insertedinto the apertured bolt, whereupon the handle 46 is then moved so as toposition the socket upon the nut. Handle 46 is then rotated in acounterclockwise direction to loosen the nut associated with the bolt,whereupon the resilient material is uncompressed, and the wrench andplug can be slidably removed from the inside of the pipe. If desired,the wrench and plug may be left attached to each other until the plug isused again, or alternatively, the plug can be removed from the wrenchand a different size plug substituted therefor, assuming a differentsize pipe will be plugged next.

The wrench of the present invention can be used with a multiplicity ofdifferent diameter plugs, so long as the nut properly fits within thesocket of the wrench. This enables plugs of different diameters to befabricated and used with the same wrench so long as the same size nut isused on the plug. Substitution of different sizes of sockets for the oneseen at 48 is considered within the comprehension of the presentinvention.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention it is to be understood that such is merely illustrative andnot restrictive and that variations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth butdesire to avail myself of such changes as fall within the purview of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A wrench for manipulating a fastener means wherein the fastener meansincludes a nut screw threaded onto an elongated threaded member havingan aperture near the terminal end with the aperture being normal to thelongitudinal axis of the threaded member; the improvement comprising:

said wrench having an inner member, an outer member, with each saidinner and outer member being telescoped together and with each saidinner and outer member being independently rotatable with respect toeach other;

said inner member having a means forming an enclosure for receiving thedepending end of the threaded member, the opposite end of said innermember having means associated therewith for securing said inner memberagainst r'otation;

pivot means, means forming a slot, and a hook means;

said hook means being journaled within said enclosure by said pivotmeans, with said hook means further including an engaging end forengaging the apertured terminal end of the threaded member, said hookmeans further including a bearing face, said hook means being biasedtoward and capable of extending into said slot;

said outer member having means forming a socket at one end thereof whichis adapted to engage the nut, and means associated with the remainingend of said outer member for imparting rotational motion to the socket;and

means adjacent said socket for positioning said engaging end of saidhook means into the aperture of the threaded member when the inner andouter members enclose the threaded member and the nut, respectively, tothereby enable the nut to be rotated with respect to the threadedmember.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said outer member includes aninside peripheral wall surface and said hook means includes a bearingface which slidably engages said inside peripheral wall surface of theouter member;

a frustoconical member forming a limited length of said insideperipheral wall surface; and said socket being connected to the majordiameter of said frustoconical member; whereby:

telescoping action between the inner and outer member causes the bearingface to ride longitudinally along the inside peripheral wall surfacewhereupon the configuration of the frustoconical member imparts pivotalmotion to the hook.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein biasing means is included betweensaid inner member and said hook to thereby maintain the hook bearingface against the inside peripheral wall surface.

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein means forming a stop is locatedbetween said pivot means and the threaded member receiving terminal endof the inner member to thereby position the aperture of the threadedmember adjacent to the engaging end of the hook when the inner member ispositioned upon the threaded member.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said fastener means is a pipe plugwhich includes spaced apart washers, a cylinder of resilient materiallocated between said washers, means forming a central aperture throughsaid washers and resilient material;

said elongated threaded member includes a bolt with the bolt and saidnut maintaining the washers and resilient material sandwichedtherebetween; whereby,

said wrench engages said plug to thereby enable the plug to be sealinglypositioned within or retrieved from the inside passageway of a pipe.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each said plate is comprised ofsaucer shaped washers, with the distance between the outer marginal edgeportion of the washers being greater than the distance between thecentral portion of the washers when the washers are arranged in face toface relationship with respect to each other.

7. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said outer member includes aninside peripheral wall surface and said hook means includes a bearingface which slidably engages said inside peripheral wall surface of theouter member;

a frustoconical member forming a limited length of said insideperipheral wall surface; and said socket being connected to the majordiameter of said frustoconical member; whereby telescoping actionbetween the inner and outer member causes the bearing face to ridelongitudinally along the inside peripheral Wall surface whereupon theconfiguration of the frustoconical member imparts pivotal motion to thehook;

biasing means included between said inner member and said hook tothereby maintain the hook bearing face against the inside peripheralwall surface; and

means forming a stop is located between said pivot means and thethreaded member receiving terminal end of the inner member to therebyposition the aperture of the threaded member adjacent to the engagingend of the hook when the inner member is positioned upon the threadedmember.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said outer member includes aninside peripheral Wall surface and said hook means includes a bearingface which slidably engages said inside peripheral wall surface of theouter member;

a frustoconical member forming a limited length of said insideperipheral wall surface; and said socket being connected to the majordiameter of said frustoconical member; whereby telescoping actionbetween the inner and outer member causes the bearing face to ridelongitudinally along the inside peripheral wall surface whereupon theconfiguration of the frustoconical member imparts pivotal motion to thehook;

said fastener means is a pipe plug: which includes spaced apart washers,a cylinder of resilient material located between said washers, meansforming a central aperture through said washers and resilient material;

said elongated threaded member includes a bolt with the bolt and saidnut maintaining the washers and resilient material sandwichedtherebetween; whereby,

said wrench engages said plug to thereby enable the plug to be sealinglypositioned within or retrieved from the inside passageway of a pipe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,558,267 10/1925 McGuckin81---125 2,909,089 10/1959 Thompson et al 81-55 2,790,343 4/1957 White81-55 2,562,419 7/1951 Ferris 8l55 X JAMES L. JONES, JR., PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. 81-55

